Various studies agree that around 70% of the population under 45 years of age has suffered the loss of a dental piece. However, many people are unaware of the consequences of not replacing a lost tooth. Edentulism is a common problem that requires intelligent solutions.

With the aim of informing and promoting cost-effective alternatives to solve dental problems, today we will talk about the repercussions of not replacing a fallen tooth.

Causes of tooth loss

First of all, it is worth remembering that between the ages of 6 to 11 years, tooth replacement takes place, so that during this stage the primary teeth are replaced by permanent teeth.

However, permanent teeth are also exposed to various conditions and trauma. These can cause oral health problems in the short and/or long term.

• Caries: Deep cavities can damage the internal structure of the tooth, resulting in the total loss of the tooth.

• Periodontal diseases: Advanced periodontal diseases tend to weaken the support of the root teeth, causing one or more teeth to fall out.

• Dental trauma: Severe dental trauma can severely damage tooth structure or cause blunt dental avulsion.

Other causes are related to anomalies in the normal development of teeth, such as dental agenesis. This condition leads to premature tooth loss, either after the loss of primary teeth or in the middle of the eruption process.

Consequences of not replacing a knocked-out tooth

The loss of a dental piece can greatly affect our self-esteem, in addition to generating a series of other significant problems related to the functionality, phonetics and malocclusion of the jaw.

Loss of masticatory function

The loss of one or more teeth affects the patient’s chewing function and, therefore, his or her nutrition. In these cases, it is common to avoid eating hard foods such as meat, since it is usually difficult to grind or cut the pieces due to edentulism.

This not only deprives us of consuming nutrient-rich foods, but can also cause gum irritation if we choose to do so.

Phonetic problems

As the teeth act as a support for the lips, partial or total loss of them leads to phonetic problems, since the interaction of the tongue with the teeth is crucial when pronouncing words and uttering sounds.

Occlusal overload

As you probably know, each dental group has a specific function when it comes to swallowing food. While the incisors cut food, the canines tear, the molars grind and the premolars have a joint function: tearing and grinding.

Consequently, when a particular tooth is missing, the other tooth groups are forced to assume a role for which they were not designed.

In the long term, this causes an occlusal overload on the remaining groups (damage to their structure, periodontal problems, bone loss, occlusal trauma). This leads to the total loss of the remaining teeth.

Dental migration

Each dental piece is in a specific position due to the force exerted by each particular dental group. Therefore, the existence of an empty space allows the migration of adjacent teeth towards it, allowing their inclination and generating occlusion problems in the long term.

Therefore, the lack of teeth results in a series of dental migrations due to malocclusion and the aforementioned occlusal overload.

Migration in turn allows the interdental points to expand, facilitating the retention of food between the remaining teeth and increasing the occurrence of caries and other periodontal problems.

Malocclusion

As we have already indicated, dental migration is a long-term problem due to the development of malocclusion in the remaining teeth. This in turn brings with it a series of periodontal conditions due to the deterioration of the temporomandibular joint, generating other collateral problems such as migraine.

Aesthetic problems

Aesthetic problems are no longer superficial when they affect our self-esteem. With the loss of a tooth, especially when it is a front tooth, it is common to develop unusual habits in order to disguise the perennial space in our smile.

Our development in the social sphere can be clearly affected immediately, which can generate significant misinterpretations and discomfort in the short term.

How to replace missing teeth?

To avoid the consequences of not replacing a fallen tooth, we recommend that you visit an experienced specialist as soon as possible. As you know, he or she will assess the general condition of your mouth, make the corresponding diagnosis, and prescribe the appropriate treatment for you.

Once the healing process is completed (3 to 4 months depending on the case), the specialist will proceed to replace the lost tooth. At this point, we must talk about the replacement of a single tooth or, in any case, of more than one extracted tooth.

Replacement of a dental piece

There are currently three intelligent options for replacing a single tooth: dental bridges and single dental implants.

• Dental bridges: They form more than one dental crown and are fixed on neighboring teeth.

• Removable implants: These are removable acrylic prostheses that are manufactured taking into account the shape of our palate. From the base it is possible to create a single dental piece.

• Fixed implants: Titanium prosthesis that is fixed to the bone to simulate the root of the tooth and screw a dental crown of natural characteristics.

Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages specific to its engineering. To find out which solution is best for you, consult your specialist.

Replacing more than one tooth

When it comes to replacing more than one tooth, there are intelligent solutions that are increasingly successful and economical. These include hybrid prostheses on implants, removable partial dentures and fixed prostheses.

To learn more about this particular topic, we invite you to read our article “Prosthetic options to replace teeth“. There you will find additional information of interest. Also, remember that after the extraction of a tooth, the ideal is to talk to the dentist to learn about the different alternatives when it comes to combating edentulism.

Do you want to improve the arch of your smile? Contact us. We are SOFDental: We offer the highest quality solutions for the improvement of oral health.